Climate does not wait, time to decide has come. Press file

After an introduction which critically outlines some aspects of the French Multi-year energy programming and of the French Plan for energy renovation of buildings, this publication discusses lessons learned from RTE scenarios which are herein considered as a rich and useful work. These scenarios contain encouraging observations for energy transition (electricity consumption will not increase; stopping the reactors at 40 years is possible without a brutal increase of CO₂ emissions and without any risk for the security of supply; the development of electric renewable energies is an option without any regret; renewable energies and energy efficiency are two complementary pillars). But the authors also outline remaining questions with stiff consequences: the Ampere and Volt scenario do not comply with the law; the level of exports may not be realistic; different hypotheses affect comparisons in some cases; the economic assessment is based on consumption stabilisation. The authors then address the case of nuclear energy for which they notably outline a denial of reality and a risk of headlong rush (notably regarding nuclear competitiveness, costs which can be disputed and cannot be verified, a risk of non-profitability, safety stakes which are sometimes neglected), even if the 50 pc objective of reduction seems consistent. They finally address the efficiency aspect by discussing the content of the French Plan of energy renovation of buildings (an insufficient rate and level, a renovation market still to be created, implementation of a unique financing offer, a necessary improvement of professional abilities), and the management of electric power demand